Focusing means for vehicle head lamps



A ril 23, 1929. H. a. WINC'HELL 1,710,599

FOCUSING MEANS FOR VEHICLE HEAD LAMPS Filed July 2, 192'? gnwnlow mmzdBu/mzwzz Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES HAROLD B. WINCHELL, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO, MG. 00., OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A

ASSIGNORQ TO THE JOHN w. Bnown conronn'rlon or 01110.

FOCUSIN G MEANS FOR VEHICLE HEAD LAMPS.

Application filed July 2, 1927. Serial 1T0. 203,033.

This invention relates broadly to improvements in vehicle head lamps, and with reference to the more specific application tl'icreoi', is particularly directed to an improved mechanism for effecting;' the support of the incau descent bulbs of such lamps so that the latter may be adjusted advantageously to procure the desired focal relationship between the bulbs and the associated reflectors.

The invention has for one of its principal objects the provisionof a focusing mechanism by means 0 which the lamp bulb may be lonmtudinally adjusted in the principal axis of the reflector and, in addition, may be adjusted in a plane perpendicular to the plane of longitudinal adjustment, the arrangement permitting the light source or filament of the bulb to be very carefully regulated in its operative relationship with respect to the refleetor so as to secure a projected light beam of proper spread, direction and controlled dispersion.

\Vith these and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts hereinafter to be more fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 a view in side elevation of a vehicle head lamp, the casing of the latter being roken away and disclosed in section to set forth the internal mechanism,

Figure 2 is a plan view, partly in hori- =zontal section, oil the improved bulb supporting and focusing mechanism comprising the present invention,

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is atransvcrse vertical sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a similar view on the line 5--5 Figure 2.

Referring more.particularly to the drawings the numeral 1 designates the casing; of a vehicle head lamp. Arranged within the casing the usual type of reflector The axial portion of the reflector is provided with a rearwardlv extending tubular boss provided with longitudinally extending slots st in the opposite sides thereof.

Adjustably positioned within the boss 3 in a tubular bulb socket member 5, in the forward end of which is removably positioned on the bane of the bulb and the base of a lamp bulb 6, the latter bein of the usual type employed in lamps of this c maractor. The socket member is the usual bayonet slots 7, which receive pins provide the customary connection for uniting the bulb with the socket member. The socket member is further provided with the usual insulated disks 8 and 9, the latter being separated by a spring 10, the disk 8 being stationarily mounted in the rear end of thesoclret member and the disk 9 loosely mounted for sliding movement in said memberand is retained in engagement with the baeeof the bulb by the spring 10. Openings are orovided in the disks 8 and 9 permitting oi the pansage of the current conveying wires (not shown) to the base of the bulb. T v

The socket member 5 is provided with ilatorally directed transversely aligned studs 11, which are slidably received within the slots 4, and have their outer ends received within openings 12 provided in the yoheshaped ends 13 of an adjusting bar 14. This bar extends longitudinally and rearwardly 0f the lamp as shown in Figure 1, and the rearend thereof terminates in a downwardly directed car 15, which formed with a threaded opening forthe reception of the shank of an adjusting screw 16. This screwis rotatably mounted in an opening provided int-he rear wall of the casing: 1, and the headed end thereof is arranged exterior-1y of theorising where it is conveniently accessible. By rotating the screw it will be apparent that longitudinal movement will beimpertcd to the bar 14, and since the latter is directly connected with the socket member through the medium of the studs 11 it follows that the longitudinal adjustment of the bars will in'ipart courasponding adjustment to the bulb supported in the socket member, may be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the principal axis of the reflector. Preferably. a sprinu l7 surrounduthe screw ltinnd is situated between the ear lined the back of the casing. The spring: .17 serves to maintain the adjustment oftbe bar which insecured by the medium of the screw.

In order to procure adj ustmentof the lamp bulb in a plane perpendicular to that obtained by the bar 14, the socket member 5 terminates in an integral U shaped frame 18, the rear portion of which being formed to constitute a circular head as shown in Figure provided with whereby said bulb 5, said head being indicated by the numeral 19. The latter, in this instance, is formed to include a transversely disposed. slot which receives apin 21 carried by the forward end of an adjusting shaft 22. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the pin 21 is arranged eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 22, and it will. be seen that when said shaft is rotated the eccei'itricity of the pin 21 will cause oscillation on the part of the socket member about the axis of the stud 11. This is indicated by dotted lines in Figure The shaft is supported for rotation at its rear end in an o iening provided in the rear wall of the casing 1, while the forward end of said shaft is supported for rotation in an opening provided in an upstanding car 23 formed with the bar Li. A (3011. spring 24:

surroumls the rear end of the shaft 22 and has its forward end seated in an annular groove provided in said shaft as at 25. This arrangement confines the spring 2a between the groove 25 and the rear wall. of the casing, maintaining said spring under compresison so that the same will exercise su'fificient frictional pressure on the walls of the groove 25 to maintain the shaft 22 in any of its adj usted positions.

In operation, by adjusting the screw 16 longitudinal travel will be imparted to the bar 14, and corresponding movement will be imparted to the socket member 5 and the bulb supported thereby by reason of the studs 11. In cross-section the studs 11 are of rectangular formation, however, the openings 12 in the forward end of the bar 14 are circular and while this permits of rocking movement on the part of the socket member yet longitudinal adjustment of the bar 14 will result :in ii'nparting corrcspoi'uiling adjustment to said socket member. The adjustment of the socket member in a longitliidinal plane is thus secured by the medium of the bar 14.- and the retention thereof in such adjusted positions by the action of the spring 17. Then, through the medium of the shaft 22 and the eccentric pin 21 on the forward endthereof adjustment of the socket member in a perpendicular plane obtained. The rotation of the shaftresults in oscillating the socket member about the horizontal axis of the studs 11 and this results inswinging movement of the bulb in a Vertical plane. The compound adjustment thus provided enables the lamp filament to secure the most advantageous po-i sitions in relation to the reflector 2, producing a resulting light beam of proper spread, distribution and form, producing a stronger and better directed driving light, the elimi nation of vagrant or uncontrolled light rays and the corresponding reduction in obnoxious lanip glare. The construction has the advantage of .iiiechauical simplicity, economy in manufacture and facility and permanence in adjustment.

What is claimed is;

1. In a vehicle head lamp, a using, a reflector mounted within said casing and including an axially disposed i'carwardly extending slotted boss, a socket member provided with transversely cxtemling studs movably positioned within said boss with the studs projecting through the slots therein, an adjusting bar provided with a yoke at the forward end thereof having openings formed therein for the reception o I said studs, a screw carried by the rear end of said casing and engaging with said bar to adjust the latter longitudinally, and a rotatable shaft journaled in connection with said casing and. said bar, the forward end of said shaft being provided. with an cccentrically disposed pin received within a slot provided in the rear portion of said socket member, said pin serving upon the rotation of said shaft to oscillate said socket member about the axis of the studs.

2. In a vehicle head lamp, a casing, a reflector mounted within said casing and formed to include an axially disposed rearwardly extending boss, a socket member movably positioned within said boss, trunnions projecting laterally from said socket member and slidably received within slots provided in said boss, an adjusting frame having the forward end thereof provided with openings in which said trunnions are received, a screw connection between the rear end. of said frame and said casing operating to effect longitudinal adjustment on the part of said frame and said socket member, a. shaft rotatably journaled in connection with said frame and said casing, a pin formed upon the forward end of said shaft and disposed in eccentric relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, said pin being receivable within a slot provided in the rear of said socket member, whereby upon the rotation of said shaft said socket member may be oscillated about the axis of said trunnions, and spring means cooperative with said shaft and said frame for maintaining the latter in their various positions of adjustment.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

HAROLD B. \VINGI-IELL. 

